Stuart must choose Bulldogs or Blues

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are likely to turn their sights to England for a new coach if the job doesn’t go to NSW Origin coach Ricky Stuart or new caretaker Jim Dymock.

Club directors will hold a meeting next week to discuss the coaching position for next season after being taken by surprise by Kevin Moore’s shock decision to quit just 30 minutes before the team’s final training session in Auckland before last night’s match against the Warriors.

Moore had been told earlier in the week that his contract would be terminated at the end of the season with one year left to run, and Bulldogs officials insist they had not yet formally considered whom to approach as his replacement.

However, Stuart is the strong favourite, and the Herald reported yesterday that there was speculation he would take over on a $750,000 per season deal.

If he were to do so, Stuart might have to forgo the Blues job, and he has said that he wants to continue in his role as NSW coach next season, for which he is already contracted.

Dymock, who was an assistant to Stuart with the NSW team, has the chance to impress Canterbury directors before an appointment is made after being handed the reins when Moore announced to the players in Auckland on Thursday that he was standing down immediately.

Should the Bulldogs decide to look further afield, Bradford coach Michael Potter, Huddersfield’s Nathan Brown, Castleford’s Terry Matterson and Catalans coach Trent Robinson are other names believed to be on a shortlist of candidates.

Brown is in his third season with Huddersfield after coaching the Dragons for six years, and recently re-signed for next season but the 37-year-old former hooker is thought to have a get-out clause in his contract if he is offered an NRL job.